Guyanatime 29 december 2017

LOOK INSIDE !

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

Friday, December 29, 2017

Issue No. 3435

Exxon contract released, finally guyanatimesgy.com

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

CEO of NCN resigns P10

…oil giant to receive sweeping concessions …no VAT, Corporation or Excise Taxes; Govt to foot Income Tax payments …Govt barred from modifying contract

US$18M bonus was paid for 10-year extension – according to Exxon’s Country Manager

$80 vat included

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Region 7 P14 overseer killed by speeding car

P14 Verdict pending in lawsuit over 2011 CAL plane crash in Guyana Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson at the public release, on Thursday morning, of the Petroleum Agreement between the Government and ExxonMobil, CNOOC Nexen and HESS

ExxonMobil contract

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Jagdeo says Govt had 'no compelling reason to keep it secret any longer'

…after exposure of 'sinister plan to squirrel away US$18M'

Bandit beaten after breaking into Sophia home

M&CC to decide on compensation for injured P10 woman

Unlicensed and driving an uninsured motor vehicle

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Minibus conductor charged for hit-and-run fatal accident

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P8 Mocha carpenter gets 3 years for ganja possession

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, December 29 – a night retraction from 01:30h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h and Saturday, December 30 – a night retraction from 02:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, December 29 – 12:55h-14:25h and Saturday, December 30 – 13:50h-15:20h.

Exxon contract released, finally …oil giant to receive sweeping concessions …no VAT, Corporation or Excise Taxes; Govt to foot Income Tax payments …Govt barred from modifying contract its interpretation, application or implementation.”

The contract goes on to say: “The foregoing obligation shall include the obligation to resolve promptly, by whatever means may be necessary, any conflict or anomaly between this agreement and any such new or amended legislation, including by way of exemp-

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, with heavier showers dominating throughout the after. Thundery showers are expected to return in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 23 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

gether with Government, will determine which projects to fund.

The contract sets aside another US$300,000 per year to ensure Guyanese personnel are trained at local or overseas universities and conferences. There are also provisions for a continuous review of local content.

Winds: Ranging between East North Easterly and Southeasterly and Easterly from 1.34 metres to 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 00:57h and 13:23h reaching maximum heights of 2.40 metres and 2.53 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 06:52h and 19:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.66 metre respectively.

Exxon’s operations in the Stabroek block

A page from the actual contract. It shows how ironclad the contract is

By Jarryl Bryan

SaturdaDAY, december 20, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

01 02 09 14 16 18 28 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

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fter much public pressure, the contract renegotiated between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana has been released. While it contains clauses for the company to put aside millions for local content, it also grants sweeping tax concessions.

The contract was signed in June 2017 between the coalition Government, ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek block.

In Article 15 of the contract,

Thursday, December 28, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 03 11 14 18 20 LUCKY 3 3 6 8 Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 03 04 07 10 17 18 DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Exxon is exempted from paying Corporation, Excise or Value Added Tax (VAT) on its earnings from petroleum.

Article 15.4 also provides for the Government itself to pay the company’s income tax. To facilitate this, the oil company has to submit tax returns to the Government.

That’s not all. Article 32 stipulates that Government cannot modify the contract or increase any fiscal obligation the company has.

This therefore puts a cap on the taxes, royalties, duties, fees or charges outlined in the contract. Government also has to compensate the operator if a change to existing laws causes loss of revenue for the company.

According to Article 32.3,

“If at any time after the signing of this agreement there is a change in the laws of Guyana… and such a change has a materially adverse effect on the economic benefits, including those resulting from the fiscal regime provided by this agreement… the Government shall promptly take any and all affirmative actions to restore the lost or impaired economic benefits to contractor, so that contractor receives the same economic benefit under the agreement that it would have received prior to the change in law or

tion, legislation, decree and/or authoritative acts.”

But there are provisions for Exxon to fulfil its corporate social responsibility.

This includes a fund for social and environmental projects. Exxon has to contribute US$300,000 per year to this fund. The sums roll over, and the company, to-

More money At a press conference where the release of the contract was announced, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman expressed “bemusement” at the suggestions that Guyana should have taken a harder line in negotiating a better deal.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Executive Leadership for Guyana

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ormer world leader and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s career has been defined by the unpopular choices she made while in Government in order to save her country from economic ruin and social decline during the late 1980s.

Thatcher, who was severely criticised for being a woman and a political outsider at a time when only men dominated the political arena at home and abroad, understood that she could only reform Britain by going against the grain and defying the self-centred political demands of her colleagues in the Conservative Party.

She knew fully well that she had to wrestle with the forces within her party first in order to pilot a new political culture that would see the relics and newcomers understanding the need for a more modern and inclusive form of Government that was more concerned about fighting poverty, reducing unemployment, eliminating crime, and boosting the scope of social services offered with a view of getting people off of welfare and in a position where they could stand on their own two feet.

In short, Thatcher never gave in to intemperate political demands of politicians on either side of the divide. If the demands were reasonable, sound and practical, she accepted.

But, she upheld the law even when she went against the grain.

She fought. She led and held every Minister she appointed to account and high standards. She insisted that she “did not care how much” her “Ministers talk so long as they did what they said”. She is quoted as saying “Being Prime Minister is a lonely job, you cannot lead from the crowd”. In the end, she won her opponents and became the longest-serving British PM with epochal accomplishments under her belt.

There is much, therefore, that President David Granger can learn from the experiences of Mrs Thatcher if he is interested in turning the fortunes of his A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government around and, of course, the country. He must start by leading from the front and providing not just general direction to his Ministers about his expectations, but specific outcomes and timelines that must be achieved based upon commitments made in the coalition’s manifesto.

Mr Granger must also avoid the temptation of coming to the rescue of his Ministers whenever they find themselves at the centre of self-engineered corruption and political scandals. In fact, Mrs Thatcher had remarked: “If you want to cut your own throat, do not come to me for a bandage”. He, therefore, must always be seen as a defender of the people’s interest and someone with a small appetite for ministerial incompetence and underperformance (such as Minister Henry’s Phagwah mix-up, Independence Day seating chaos and chatree statements).

His current leadership style appears to be laissez-faire in nature. This is very evident when one looks at the quality of policy decisions that are adumbrated by key personnel in his administration (VAT on private education). Until such time that Mr Granger tightens his grip on those rogue elements in his Cabinet, the public will continue to feel slighted, neglected, disillusioned, and betrayed. He must make some critical changes within his Executive circle if he plans on being re-elected at the next election.

It is not good for any President to be seen as flouting the Constitution that they took an oath to protect or engaging in any form of illegality in order to achieve political objectives (unilateral appointment of GECOM’s Chairman). It is also not desirable for any leader to be seen as facilitating corruption or secrecy. While he has no doubt conducted himself personally and publicly in an admirable way, the same cannot be said for key persons in his immediate circle.

Mr Granger must also take a stand against all forms of arrogance that flow from his Executive circle. There is enough evidence that resentment for certain Executive acts that are being perceived as racially and ethnically discriminatory (firing of mostly Indo-Guyanese) is running high among a large portion of Guyanese. He should redouble his efforts to remove this perception.

In the words of Mrs Thatcher “standing in the middle of the road is way too dangerous because you can get knocked down by traffic on both sides”. If he does provide the leadership the Government needs to perform exceptionally, maybe Mrs Thatcher was right when she said way back in the 70s: “If you need something said ask a man, but if you need something done ask a woman.”

A scene from the “Main Big Lime” event on Main Street, Georgetown on Tuesday (Carl Croker photo)

Blundered greatly by supporting the AFC Dear Editor, There seems to be a deliberate agenda to thwart the efforts of Mr Gobin Harbhajan and many others, who have so far tarried in vain to free the illegally ‘impounded’ calf at #51 Police Station. What is unfortunate is that there now seems to be a direct attack on Mr Harbhajan by some top officials and some members of the Guyana Police Force. This is disappointing.

Mr Harbhajan stands out as the most humane politician I have ever seen, and now he is accused by persons in the AFC of ‘glory hunting’. This was ventilated in the chat group’ Moving Guyana Forward’. May I remind these perverted individuals that if that were so, why has the Minister of Public Security allowed this to continue? Why is he con-

tributing to this ‘glory hunting’? All the minister had to do was free the calf.

But I do feel it is the other way around. The minister has failed to address this issue, and that has become an embarrassment to this Government.

This is not the first time that Mr Harbhajan is doing this type of service. As a devout Hindu, he has shown that he strongly upholds his religious principles, which teach him that every living creature is important and should be the recipient of our compassion, love and affection.

This poor calf is suffering while the AFC is bent on protecting three members of the AFC National Executive Committee, who are still to face the brunt of the law for alleged criminal acts.

One was involved in an alleged $2 million fraud at the

MMA, but no charges have to date been laid. This same person was charged for DUI, and another was involved in an alleged rape case, and until now no charges have been laid. This same person was involved in an accident two days ago at the Number 19 Road, and bluntly refused to take a breathalyzer test.

He allegedly called ‘a big one’ on the spot, and handed the cell phone to the police officer, who then allegedly received instructions that no tests should be administered. This is quite mystifying, when severely injured persons at New Amsterdam Hospital are forced to take breathalyzer tests whilst lying down in beds.

Another female attached to the NCN Berbice Station is enjoying her full salary and benefits while being on ‘administrative leave’ for alleged administrative fraud.

Why is this person still not charged when there is overwhelming evidence?

It’s a pity that this poor calf has no friends with top connections in authority. I have blundered greatly by supporting the AFC, since our AFC ‘big wigs’ cannot even free a suffering cow calf. No wonder they have failed the sugar workers, whom they had promised so much.

There is now an impounded pregnant cow at the same Police Station and 2 sheep, so I guess the minister is building his personal ranch there. Poor Mr Harbhajan, he now has to spend more time cutting grass and caring for these animals.

The ‘cow calf’ fiasco is now a national disgrace.

Yours sincerely, Muhammad Mustapha

Lessons for Guyanese leaders from the life of Matamela Ramaphosa Dear Editor, A few days ago, I was greeted by the welcome news that Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is the new head of South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC).

This ardent Christian was, as a boy, a follower of Steve Biko’s doctrine; while as a youth leader, notable lawyer, trade union top brass, successful businessman (multi-millionaire), architect of constructive social compacts, former general secretary of the ANC, and accomplished public/private partnership achiever, he would likely become the next president of South Africa.

However, there are

three other aspects of Ramaphosa’s persona which I would like to highlight and recommend for serious consideration by some current and aspiring politicians.

They are: 1) His track record as a negotiator/trust builder; 2) his loyalty to party leadership, even in the face of decisions that smack of unfairness to his political career; and 3) his willingness to publicly express remorse for a lack of judgement.

Now to the first: In 1992, after talks broke down between the De Klerk government (there is a tendency to underplay De Klerk’s significant role in the reconciliation process), the ANC and other parties, Nelson

Mandela reasserted his leadership with a priority to haul South Africa ‘out of the quagmire’. Behind the scenes, ever since talks had broken off, two key negotiators -- Cyril Ramaphosa, aged forty, from the ANC, and Roelf Meyer, forty-five, from the Government side -- stayed in touch in private with an aim to pick up the pieces. They were convinced that the way out of the impasse was for the Government and the ANC to reach bilateral understanding before multi-party talks continued. They struck up an effective working relationship, meeting privately in hotel rooms, and managed to establish a measure of trust which survived de-

spite the turmoil, and provided the basis for the process to resume.

Our country has had unsuccessful efforts by private sector organisations, such as the GMA under Ramesh Dookhoo’s leadership, to engage the main political parties in a trust-building initiative (more in a subsequent letter), Caricom, and persons like the late Hugh Cholmondeley’s shuttle diplomacy to avoid Guyana becoming a ‘Caribbean Rwanda’. The “three wise men”, despite the limited outcomes, are about the highest achievers in Guyana’s political conflict resolution efforts to date.

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US$18M bonus was paid for 10-year extension – according to Exxon’s Country Manager

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n the wake of the Government finally releasing the contract it renegotiated with ExxonMobil, the oil giant has clarified that the US$18 million bonus it paid to the Government was meant to secure a 10-year extension of the renegotiated contract.

ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson made this assertion when addressing the media at a press conference on the same day that the contract was released.

“The bonus was agreed to, not to gain access to the Stabroek Block, because we had that, but it was to gain this extension,” he told the gathering, which included President David Granger and other cabinet ministers and members of civil society.

The bonus first came to light in a leaked correspondence dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana with this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, had requested that a foreign currency account be opened at

Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, and ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson at the press briefing on Thursday

the Bank of Guyana in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that

is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

Amidst criticism, Government officials have defended the secrecy by saying the money would be used to pay legal fees in defence of Guyana’s sovereignty, should its case

with Venezuela reach the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Fair deal

At a separate press conference later on Thursday, Henson was asked whether the contract was a fair one. He defended the gen-

Lessons for Guyanese leaders...

The second noteworthy point of Ramaposa’s career I wish to illustrate to those seeking the political kingdom and are impatient to access a powerbase ‘gravy train’ above service to ‘king and country’ follows: In 1994, Ramaphosa, then general secretary of the ANC and a key figure in drawing up a new constitution, lost a bid to become Mandela’s deputy. That was a hard blow, but being a disciplined politician and loyal follower, and being persuaded by Mandela, he went into business. For the next twenty years, this astute gentleman, who was deeply influenced

by Christianity and later communism, developed deep links with the private sector.

He directed his energies into building a massive holding company, ‘Shanduka,’ with a range of investments in sectors such as mining, telecommunications, the media, beverages, and fast foods. He remained close to the ANC as a member of the national disciplinary committee and manoeuvered a major comeback

on the political scene in 2012, becoming deputy president of the ANC and eventually the country.

In Guyana, I recall a former President lamenting the indiscipline and display of impatience by a few ‘young turks’ he had brought into politics at a senior party level.

Within a short time, they felt he was obsolete and should be replaced by a more relevant party leader from amongst them. They proceeded to wage a not-so-subtle campaign for the leader’s removal.

The third characteristic of Ramaphosa that is worthy of emulation by many persons occupying high political office is his public apology for a lapse of judgement. As a wealthy person, he had spent lavishly on fast cars, top bred cattle, and luxurious living, among other vices. His reputation was slightly tainted by allegations of inciting police use of force that killed thirty-four (34) workers at the Markana platinum mine in August 2012. Though cleared by a Commission of Inquiry,

he also apologized on national radio for the insensitive language he used leading to the actual killings; humbly expressing regrets for being excessive in a sea of poverty, not paying workers a decent wage, and admitted he had been blind-sighted.

My only recollection of top Guyanese political leaders issuing a public apology are: 1) Dr. Ptolemy Reid, former Prime Minister, tendering

erous terms of the contract while assuring the country it would not take advantage of these terms.

The official emphasized that the agreement was a globally competitive one, and warned against setting expectations for Guyana too high; that is, comparing what the country gets to what other, more mature oil producing countries receive.

“Absolutely! ...it’s a fair deal. I think we’ve been treated fairly, and I think we have treated Guyana fairly.

Yes, we had discovered the Liza Field. But we have not fully appraised (it). That was only one field, without proven production. And yes, we have the Skipjack dry hole, in addition to other companies that had unsuccessful exploration attempts.

“So I think it’s unreasonable to compare this agreement with other, more mature oil producers like Brazil or countries in West Africa, Canada or the United States. It’s even more so (unreasonable) to cherry pick single elements of the agreement and do so.”

Henson noted that it is a common feature in the oil industry to incentivize its oil

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regret for the Government’s closure of the Transport & Harbours Department Railway Service and; 2) Dr. Cheddi Jagan, for saying ‘black people are at the lowest rung of the ladder’.

Today the South Africa Rand is racing to a ninemonth high. Traders are warming to a Ramaphosa presidency, and there is renewed confidence in a South African economy with solid

democratic and governance structures.

There is much to emulate from the life of Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa by many Guyanese leaders as our nation gears to embrace its economic fortunes championed by a booming oil and gas sector.

Happy New Year.

Yours faithfully, Derrick Cummings

sector to encourage investment as well as to transfer revenue potential from taxes to profit-sharing. He also urged observers to look at the entirety of the agreement and the conditions at the time it was negotiated. He noted that the 2016 agreement was based on a 2012 model, in turn based on a 1999 contract.

“The 2016 agreement that is being released today is based on the 2012 model agreement the Government had. It’s basically the same agreement with limited (changes). It secured a range of additional benefits for Guyana, for work commitments, training, local content, and increased fees and payments.

“If we assume IMF’s crude price forecast, which starts at US$50 a barrel, and we assume the production forecast we have for Liza phase 1, Guyana can have between $1.5billion and $2 billion over the first five years of the project. And over the life of Liza Phase 1 only, Guyana can receive over US$7 billion,” he said.

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Foundation

By Barbara Rowley

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olunteerism, especially around the holidays, offers an ideal opportunity for families to have fun and feel closer to each other at the same time.

Community service helps to drive home the message that giving is much more than laying down cash for the hot gift of the season or scrambling around to buy mounds of presents.

Volunteerism can show children that giving your time, effort, and kindness is more rewarding than just expecting to receive lots of presents.

Also, if volunteering begins at an early age, it can become part of your children’ lives — something they just want to do. It can teach them: * that one person can make a difference. A wonderful, empowering message for children is that they are important enough to have an impact on someone or something else. * the benefit of sacrifice. By giving up a toy to a less fortunate child, a child learns that sometimes it’s good to sacrifice. Cutting back on recreation time to help others reinforces that there are important things other than ourselves and our immediate needs.

* tolerance. Working in community service can bring children and teens together with people of different backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, ages, and education and income levels.

They’ll likely find that even the most diverse individuals can be united by common values. * to be even more appre-

ciative of what they have. By helping others who aren’t as fortunate, children can better see all the remarkable things to be grateful for in their own lives.

Choose to help an organisation or group that fits with your family’s values and the things you believe in. Just a few ways you can help out in your community and be-

yond: * Sponsor another family in need or purchase some presents for less fortunate children through a holiday donation programme. Let your children pick out and wrap the gifts themselves. * If your children love animals, talk to your local animal shelter. Many distribute staples like pet food to low-income pet owners over the holidays and need volunteers to help. * Give back to the elderly in your area. Help out at a nursing home; visit with older people who could use a little extra joy and company around the holidays; bring gifts or meals to those who are homebound; or lend a hand to elderly neighbours with decorating, cooking, or wrapping presents. * Volunteer your family’s time by helping out at a children’s hospital or homeless shelter or building or refurbishing housing for people in need.

Community service can teach children that giving comes in many forms, not just as presents. Emphasise that giving of their time, effort, and caring can mean so much more — and last longer — than any gift that money can buy. (kidhealth.org)

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n the day after Christmas, my four-year-old, Kate, woke up and started searching under the tree for the one present she might have missed. There was nothing there, but that didn’t stop her. She simply wasn’t ready for the holidays to be over. All day long, she’d pitifully inquire about exactly when Santa would come again, my answer clearly never the one she’d wanted.

As Kate examined the barren space beneath the tree and looked for the stockings I had already taken down, I felt pure joy. Joy over the fridge full of leftovers (no cooking for a few days), the houseguests all gone, and my shopping, wrapping, and entertaining behind me. Life suddenly felt wonderfully uncomplicated. The truth is, I felt like my holiday was just beginning.

But while many a mom might be excited to get on with the new year and leave the stress and to-dos of Christmas behind, a child’s desire to savour one more moment of gift giving, celebrating, and family togetherness can be a challenge. That’s why the key to enjoying the days after is to have some interesting new activities at the ready that’ll keep the troops from crashing and burning after their holiday high.

Read together

Read your child’s favourite holiday books to him next to the tree

Pull out the presents

Have your kids line up all (or some) of the new toys on the floor or on a table and spend the morning examining and playing with each one. The two-for-one bonus: You can take photos of your children with each toy or book that was sent from family or friends who weren’t around on the holiday. Then, when you print out or develop the pictures, jot down what your child loves most about the present on the back of the photo, and slip it in an envelope to mail for a quick and easy personalised thank-you note.

“Avoid Post-Holiday Letdown”

Clean out the fridge of all those soon-to-spoil seasonal treats, and help your friends do the same by hosting a potluck. Toss everything on pretty platters, serve it on paper plates (so there’s less work for you later), and settle in to compare your holiday stories.

Can’t handle any more entertaining right now? Divide up the cookies and what’s left of your famous ham on individual plates, then go with the children to deliver a surprise meal to an elderly neighbour or a friend who’s just had a baby.

Leave the house

Need some exercise after days of eggnog and homemade fudge? Take a family trip to your local zoo (surely deserted on this big shopping day) for fresh air, a brisk walk, and an energizing change of scene. Or go for a long hike in the park. (Excerpt from parenting.com)

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ExxonMobil contract

Jagdeo says Govt had 'no compelling reason to keep it secret any longer' …after exposure of 'sinister plan to squirrel away US$18M'

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said he would be examining the released ExxonMobil contract over the next few days before sharing his perspectives on its contents and the circumstances which forced the Government to make it public.

Jagdeo maintained his position that the contract negotiated between the Government and the USbased oil company should have been made public from the inception as there was nothing impeding its release.

“The reason for refusing to make the contract with ExxonMobil public over a year-and-a-half after it was signed, in spite of a relentless campaign by the media, many civil society and international organisations and the parliamentary political Opposition, was made apparent now that the contract has emerged today. The now revealed contract exposes the false claims by the Government that a clause inserted in the Petroleum Act by the People’s Progressive Party and national security concerns prevented its disclosure,” the Opposition Leader maintained.

He argued that the primary reason for keeping the agreement secret, despite it being registered at the Deeds Registry which made it a public document, is contained in Article 33, which provides for a signing-bonus of US$18 million.

“The signing bonus as revealed by diligent work done by the media (Guyana Times being at the forefront), was paid into a secret account at the Bank of Guyana with strict instructions not to transfer it into the Consolidated Fund, in flagrant violation of Article 216 of the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. Several Cabinet members refused to

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

acknowledge the existence of the signing bonus. The Minister of Finance even said it was a “figment of the imagination” and that they never received a signing bonus nor did they ask for one although it was already paid into the secret account since September 2016”, he commented.

Jagdeo was adamant that now that the “sinister plan to squirrel-way the US$18 million has been exposed,” there is no compelling reason to keep the agreement secret any longer.

He suggested that there are still many unanswered questions that the Government needs to come clean on. “…For example, who negotiated the signing bonus and how was the figure of US$18 million arrived at?” he quizzed before stating that “over the next few days I will examine the contract in detail and offer our perspective on it” .

After much criticism and public dissatisfaction, the Government on Thursday released the controversial petroleum agreement it signed with US oil giant, ExxonMobil as it announced that Guyana could pocket over US$80 billion over the next few years once commercial operations commence.

Each barrel would be calculated at US$50 and worth

some US$160 billion altogether. This means that Guyana would be receiving US$1 million per day and US$300 million each year based upon the agreement.

This is based on the fact that some 3.2 billion barrels of oil reserves were discovered in the Stabroek block Liza 1 field.

The revised agreement makes provisions for an increase in the annual rental fee from US$240,000 to US$1 million with training being increased from US$45,000 to US$300,000.

It would see a new allocation of US$300,000 for social and environmental programmes and the payment of a two per cent royalty.

Seventy-five per cent of the earnings would be set aside for cost recovery.

The agreement also reveals that the US$18M signing bonus by ExxonMobil which was paid over to the Government but kept secret and stashed in a special Bank of Guyana account was paid for a 10-year extension of the agreement.

Speaking at a ceremony flanked by State officials, civil society representatives and President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday morning, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman again defended the agreement and the role his Government played.

Trotman did not directly address concerns over the legality of the decision to hold the monies outside of the Consolidated Fund or other serious criticisms of aspects of the deal.

M e a n w h i l e , ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson said Guyana would earn about US$1.5 billion from the Liza 1 well after a period of five years. He explained that US$7 billion would also be earned over a 20 year period, based on price assumptions.

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friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Unlicensed and driving an uninsured motor vehicle

Minibus conductor charged for hit-and-run fatal accident …on Christmas Eve at Bagotstown

Deceased: Shahabb “Vincent” Scippeo

By Paula Gomes

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ven as family members of the late 38-yearold Shahabb ‘Vincent’ Scippeo, a mason who was killed in an early Christmas Eve Day accident, mourn his tragic death, the driver of the motor vehicle involved in the accident has been arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts on Thursday, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, along with several other

traffic offences.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Trenton Lake, the accused, Damian Walcott, pleaded not guilty to the offence of causing death by dangerous driving, which detailed that on December 24, 2017, on the Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he drove minibus BLL 3140 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Scippeo.

Lake told the court that his client is a thirty-year-old route 32 (Parika-Georgetown) minibus conductor of Block A, Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Bail was granted in the sum of $500,000 for the particular offence, and Walcott was ordered to report to the Providence Police Station on a weekly basis, pending the outcome of trial. A request for bail reduction was rejected, and this matter was adjourned to January 15, 2017.

Walcott, who does not have a driver’s licence has been barred from obtaining or owning such a document during the course of the trial.

Charged: Damian Walcott

Walcott has also been slapped with four traffic offences, for which he was arraigned before city Magistrate Dylan Bess earlier on Thursday. He accepted responsibility for being in control of a motor vehicle without being the holder of a minibus driver’s licence that was in force at the time; failing to render assistance post-accident; failing to report the accident; and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

Walcott was fined a total of $80,000 for those offences.

According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, the defendant was proceeding south along the western side of the Bagotstown Public Road when he struck down a pedestrian who was in the process of crossing the road from west to east.

This publication was told that Scippeo was flung onto the road as a result of the impact, and was dragged for several feet before the vehicle came to a stop.

The driver of the minibus was reported to have fled the scene following the accident, and the unconscious body of the now deceased was picked up some time after and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Scippeo, a former resident of the Peter’s Hall community (EBD), is the eldest of four siblings, and leaves to mourn many devastated relatives and friends. He had just celebrated his 38th birthday, and unfortunately never got home to indulge in the delicacies prepared by his mother and awaiting his return.

Mocha carpenter gets 3 years for ganja possession …claims medicinal use to treat asthma

H

arvey Moonsammy told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that he was using the ‘boiled herb’ to treat his asthma when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of trafficking in narcotics on Thursday afternoon.

It is alleged that Moonsammy was in possession of 90 grams of cannabis on December 23, 2017, at

Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The 26-six-year-old readily admitted to the charge while adding that a daily dose of the prohibited herb does well for his illness.

Prosecutor Arvin Moore said that on the day in question, Police on patrol spotted the defendant with a haversack, acting in a suspicious manner. After stopping him and searching the haver-

sack, they found a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis, in a ziplock bag. He was taken into custody and the suspected illegal substance was weighed in his presence. He was then charged shortly after.

The carpenter was ordered to pay a fine of $135,000, three times the street value of the drug and sentenced to three years in prison.

Parika labourer charged for attempted murder

Charged: Leroy Daniels

L

eroy Daniels, 51, was charged for unlawfully and maliciously wounding Dharmendra Persaud with intent to commit murder on December 23, 2017 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Daniels denied the charge, and Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan was inclined to uphold the prosecution’s objection to bail notwithstanding the application of defence lawyer Tiffany Jeffrey.

Though circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear, Guyana Times understands that the victim remains in an unconscious and critical state at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The father of four was remanded to prison until January 16, 2018, when he is expected to appear in the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Whatever happened to…

Y

…that Indian Arrival Monument? ou do remember there was a Monument commemorating the Arrival of Indians to Guyana that was supposed to’ve been erected in Berbice, don’t you? Yep!! The same one whose base ignominiously collapsed in April at the exotically-named village of Palmyra in Berbice. From the pics in the papers, the ruins were quite reminiscent of that ancient monument of which Shelly wrote about in Ozymandias: “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/ Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare/ The lone and level sands stretch far away.” In the case of the Indian monument’s base, having been sited in a cleared cane field, there are waving stalks of sugar cane that “stretch far away”! There was a note in the press a couple of weeks ago, to inform those interested, that the Government of India, via its local High Commission, was going to “take over” the construction of the base.

But your Eyewitness has a few questions as he looks back -- not in anger, but bemusement -- at the saga of the Indian monument. Monuments like these aren’t just pieces of metal or wood or stone; they’re the embodiment of the history of peoples! And you shouldn’t fool around with them. Remember what happened to the Monument to the 1823 Slave Revolt constructed during the PPP regime?? The base alone cost the Govt $26 million! God knows how much the bronze monument itself cost!!

The APNU/AFC Administration, aware of the sentiments aroused, have promised to construct another 1823 Monument at Parade Ground. Good for them, because Africans weren’t pleased with the location!!

Early in the decade, your Eyewitness does remember the then PPP Administration accepting from two local artists/sculptors a concept model on the Indian Monument. This was sculpted and cast in a 12’ x 12” x 12 bronze tableaux in India at a cost of $30 million -- paid for by the Government of India.

It was shipped back to Guyana early in 2016, and was supposed to be placed on the site by March 2017, in time for the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Guyana. The first question, of course, is why was the project started only just weeks before the projected date?? Are we ever going to have an answer? Then the clearing of the one-acre land and “roadway” cost $43 million, even though the cane field is right next to the Berbice Highway! Why? Finally, of course, there’s the $26 million of another $43 million paid to the sole-sourced Linden fly-by-night contractor to build the base that collapsed! Answers anyone?

But have we no shame? Why should we beg India to build the base, after they had built the monument? Are we that incompetent?

…the AFC? The Americans have a saying, “it ain’t over till it’s over!” But for the AFC at the end of 2017, your Eyewitness has to say, “It’s over baby!! Kaput! Sayonara!!

Ta Ta!!” The avant garde artist Andy Warhol did say that everybody has their 15 minutes of fame…and then they’re yesterday’s news!! The AFC’s 15 minutes started in 2006 when they were put together and backed by Big Brother.

There were no explicit announcements, of course, but the fact that big time US pollster Dick Morris would condescend to conduct a poll in Guyana spoke volumes.

That the poll “showed” the AFC was the best thing since sliced bread did wonders for the party’s fortunes. Led

by Raphael Trotman, they bit off a big chunk of the PNC’s votes -- those who were disillusioned by Corbin’s leadership! They reached their peak when, influenced by Nagamootoo, they carved out enough PPP votes to tip APNU over the finish line.

Then, of course, they crashed and burned when they allowed APNU to walk all over them!

Like they say, “Good riddance….!”

…Andy Warhol You don’t know who was Andy Warhol? He’s the fella famous for painting labels of Campbell soup - one which sold for US$11.7 million!!!

And, that’s the point, isn’t it? 15 minutes are all you get!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

News

9

friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bandit beaten after breaking After 12 months La Grange Police ranks accused of into Sophia home

unlawfully withholding civilian’s vehicle

…accomplices on the run

A

bandit who was caught after breaking in to and robbing the home of a Sophia, Greater Georgetown family in the wee hours of Thursday was given a sound thrashing before he was handed over to the Police.

Reports are that 23-yearold Ronaldo Parris, along with his accomplices – “Daniel” and “Seon” – around 03:00h ventured into the home at Lot 467 C Field Sophia and held 53-year-old Hyacinth La Cruz, at knifepoint as they demanded that she hand over her valuables.

Guyana Times understands that the elderly woman put up a fight, and even though she sustained minor injuries, her brave efforts and the prompt response from neighbours resulted in one of the perpetrators being caught, after she called out for help.

However, his two accomplices managed to flee the scene, after raiding the family’s fridge and devouring the cake left over from the holidays.

In a video circulating on social media, Parris was seen submerged in water with his hands and feet bound. He was beaten mercilessly by loved ones of the victim while villagers looked on and cheered.

In his pleas to be spared vigilante justice, the 23-yearold offered up the names of his accomplices. In doing so, the young criminal held out that he played no major part in the robbery, noting that it was a

– parts allegedly stolen

E

The captured bandit: Ronaldo Parris

spontaneous attack orchestrated by “Daniel”.

Meanwhile, when asked what they were doing in the area at that hour, Parris responded saying, “The Police fling we out hay just now.”

As he was continuously grilled and subjected to physical violence, the young criminal further revealed, “No, we ain’t plan fuh come in hay, we pass hay and them boys say watch hay so.”

“We ain’t plan this. Me ain’t lying,” was his defence as he cried out for mercy.

Even though Parris confirmed knowing his co-conspirators for quite a while, he held out that he did not have a way of contacting the two teens.

As such, he was eventually handed over to Police. Parris was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital to receive

treatment for the wounds inflicted during the vigilante attack. He remains under guard as ranks continue their hunt for the two criminals still on the run.

According to a release issued by the Guyana Police Force, Parris, who is an unemployed resident of the said area, is currently facing several charges for break and entry. In fact, it was only on Wednesday that a burglary charge against the accused was dismissed for want of prosecution after the victim refused to present evidence.

Meanwhile, La Cruz, who in fighting off the intruders sustained a laceration to her right hand and abrasions about her body, was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she received treatment and was released.

Exxon contract released...

Throwing blame for the content of the renegotiated contract at the feet of the former Government, Trotman noted that the Government’s priority was not to negotiate for more money for Guyana. He therefore questioned those making such calls.

“There has been much said about the size of the block, and that yours truly gave away Guyana’s birth-right. For the reasons I stated earlier and for the strategic importance of having this company develop the resources on our behalf, we sought to maintain the exact proportions of the grant that had been given by the PPP Government. We did not take a single millimetre, nor did we add a single millimetre to what had already been given to Exxon,” he explained.

“So the claim about us giving away the resource and losing, I am amazed at (it). The value of the resource is already

about US$106 billion, with Guyana being entitled to half of that. It is bemusing to understand this clamour for more money when in fact we should be more concerned about how we will manage this resource.

How are we going to protect this resource? Because there are going to be others who will want to share it… sometimes without prior consent,” he declared.

While the contract was derived from the 1999 agreement, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has, in the past, defended this by pointing out that the generosity of the provisions were meant to attract a largescale investor in the sector.

“Let me first say that Guyana should be thankful to Janet Jagan. In a similar situation as we had in 1999, I would have probably done the same…

At the time when Janet gave the blocks out, we did not have many takers,” Jagdeo had said

From page 3

in September of this year. “The fact that there are so many blocks remaining also proves that we did not have many takers. In 1999, Guyana was considered as a high-risk.”

Guyana’s high risk status has been changed since ExxonMobil’s 2015 oil find in the Stabroek Block -- and before the renegotiated contract.

In May of that year, Exxon confirmed that more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs had been encountered at its Liza 1 exploration well.

In late June 2016, Exxon’s drilling results at Liza 2 revealed more than 58 metres of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations. The well was drilled to a depth of 5,475 metres at 1692 metres water depth.

Drilling results confirmed recoverable resources to be between 800 million and 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

ric Scott, who was accused of the possession of illegal ammunition, which Police allegedly found in his motor car on January 4, 2017, has claimed that ranks attached to the La Grange Police Station were refusing to hand over his vehicle for which he was still paying instalments.

This was related to Magistrate Annette Singh at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday who ordered that the Toyota Carina PTT 1753 motor car be returned to its registered owner.

Scott appeared on Thursday in relation to an accusation of robbery, but the Virtual Complainant was not present during the proceedings. Guyana Times understands that the robbery allegedly occurred in July this year.

La Grange Police Station

The accused man told Magistrate Singh that Police ranks reportedly informed him that he “can’t get the car”. After Singh enquired, the Police Prosecutor relayed that the prosecution has no objection to the car being returned to Scott as the car did not form part of its case. Scott then said that “almost everything” was missing from his car, but the Magistrate informed him that he would

have to take action in the courts on that matter.

Scott further noted that he had normally used the car to ‘work taxi’ and he worked in the interior. This publication understands that the car’s amplifier, equaliser, car deck and battery all reportedly went missing within the past year. Meanwhile, his robbery matter was adjourned to March 1, 2018.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

10 news M&CC to decide on compensation for injured woman friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…who suffered a broken leg after falling into manhole at bus park

G

e o r g e t o w n Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, on Wednesday reminded that she is not solely responsible for compensating anyone for damages or injuries.

Rather, it is a decision of the Council.

At the time, the Mayor was responding to a letter she received from one Jenny Boston, who is claiming compensation for injuries she sustained when she fell into a manhole in August.

The 51-year-old security guard, a resident of Henry Street, Werk-enRust, suffered a broken left leg when, at about 18:00hrs on August 11, she fell into a manhole in the vicinity of the Route #42 minibus park.

According Boston, she encountered the manhole while returning home from the Stabroek Market. She initially noted that the taxi drivers operating in the vi-

Flashback: Jenny Boston displaying her injuries

cinity were quite angry, since they had attempted to cover the manhole but the City Constables had removed the cover.

Following the incident, Boston sought compensation from the City, but was informed to put it in writing and to provide documentation to support her claims.

At Wednesday’s statutory meeting, Mayor ChaseGreen said she had received another letter claiming compensation. It was previously reported that the City had agreed to compensate the injured woman, but the Mayor clarified that the council is yet to take such a decision.

“I cannot say to anyone that, ‘Yes, you will be com-

pensated.’ There is a standard operating procedure that has to be carried out.

There has to be an investigation; they have to have all the medicals for claims, (and) to date we have not received all the medicals for claims from Ms. Boston; and so that matter is still to go to the Legal Affairs Committee,” she noted.

“I do not pay compensation. It is for the Council to decide that, ‘Yes, that manhole is ours’; ‘Yes’ this would have happened, and this is all the records we have’.

And until the Council decides on the amount of compensation, then and only then we can inform anyone of compensation,” ChaseGreen explained.

The issue has been referred to the City’s Legal Affairs and Security Committee for further investigation. However, the Mayor used the issue to remind the City Engineer’s Department to ensure that the manholes around the City are properly covered, to ensure that Council is not liable.

At various statutory meetings, the Engineer’s Department has been continuously lambasted for its inefficiency. Mayor ChaseGreen, back in March, had warned Engineer Colvern Venture to take control of his department, or the council would be forced to take action. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

CEO of NCN resigns

…as power struggle deepens at State media entity

T

he Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN), Lennox Cornette, has reportedly tendered his resignation from the entity as a rift and internal power struggle for total control deepens.

Cornette’s resignation has been accepted by the Board’s Chairman, Enrico Woolford, and will take effect on March 15, 2018. He is expected to proceed on accumulated leave sometime during January next year.

This newspaper understands that the Board had continuously voiced concerns over Cornette’s leadership style and inability to implement decisions in a timely and effective manner.

It had also related concerns over the management of key internal departments which

NCN CEO Lennox Cornette

were still bleeding the company’s finances.

“There is also a lot of power rifts and fighting between Mr Woolford and Mr Cornette for control. They hardly agree. In the end the employees suffer, and the company was not achieving its objectives. The Prime Minister is aware of the concerns of the Board, and

Cornette, too, has had his ear,” a senior manager at the company revealed yesterday.

Cornette’s resignation also comes at a time when his contract is nearing an end.

“He knows that it will not be renewed by any board which Mr Woolford heads, so he basically bit the bullet,” the manager related.

Cornette’s suitability for the top post came in for questioning after he was selected ahead of several more suitably qualified individuals, including Woolford. He replaced Molly Hassan, who served as the entity’s last CEO under the former PPP Government. She, too, resigned, citing concerns about the manner in which she was being treated following the change of Government back in 2015.

S RAIGHT

news

friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

APNU Councillor seeks M&CC’s permission to set up used oil refinery

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

FINALLY, THE OIL AGREEMENT!

L

et us not deny the fact that without western technology, the oil in Guyana’s waters would have been buried for a long time to come.

Therefore, Exxon’s presence must be welcomed. Plus their financing was essential to the success of such a project.

But even in light of all of this gratitude to Exxon, it cannot negate the fact that the Production Sharing Agreement should have been shared with the Guyana Parliament within days of signing. Fortunately, good sense prevailed, and this Agreement is no longer a State secret?

On page 28 of the APNU/AFC manifesto, Team Granger promised the people then to work with international companies to develop Guyana’s mineral resources towards “increasing the well-being and happiness of Guyanese citizens in a manner that is transparent and equitable”. There is nothing transparent and equitable about hiding this Agreement and the people’s US$18 million from them. Such behaviour by the members of Team Granger more aptly resembles hypocrisy, deceit and executive “cockishness” of the lowest class.

What Mr. Granger has failed to realise is that the 2011 elections have created a new breed of people who will not tolerate, in any shape or form, any act of financial skullduggery from any Government of Guyana. Thus that foolishness his regime tried by attempting to hide the US$18 million and the associated Agreement should be a lesson to his entire Team: Guyana is all “awee own”, and does not belong to the “Granger cabal” only.

Thus he may have the brawn, but there are enough brains in the “rational middle” to checkmate him every time. And every time he is checkmated, his credibility among the youths (who constitute some 65% of the population) is blown to smithereens. He must be made aware of this fact because, without the youths, there will not be any PNC President after 2020. Thus only a political idiot would want to throw away his credibility on such issues, unless that person has a PLAN BAHAMAS that has designs on stealing the people’s patrimony.

All this nonsense about revealing the terms of the contract and the existence of this US$18 million would adversely affect our national security is just utter poppycock from some very intellectually bankrupt men. If it were not for people like Chris Ram and other patriotic Guyanese who had to almost “pull teeth” using the Court system, the Guyanese people would have still been in the dark on their Agreement and their money if Team Granger was allowed to have its own way. KUDOS to these great Guyanese!

Let me make it clear: Guyana has the moral high ground on the Venezuela/Guyana border controversy. Therefore, President Granger can expect support from all of us in the rational middle on this border dispute. So there is no need for his Team to act so shiftily on this Agreement and this money. Looking at the geography of the area and it logically proves that the land and water are ours. So all this gerrymandering from Team Granger that they had to keep these secrets to protect our territorial integrity exposes their delirium. It is only a matter of time before an International Arbitration Tribunal proves Guyana’s case correct, and if we have to spend US$30 million or US$100 million to permanently settle this matter once and for all, so what? All of Guyana will back any Government of Guyana that takes this matter to the International Court. So I am at a loss why Team Granger has to create this unnecessary mask around this issue.

But let us not follow Mr. Granger into deluding ourselves that our national security will be compromised if this contract and this sign-on bonus were revealed. Only a demented or a corrupt mind will want to sell such a position as a means to mask an illegal act. The facts remain that if Venezuela wants to be immoral and invade Guyana, no “Granger or Pranger” can stop them. Not even diplomatic effort can prevent such military action. Only the military might of America will be able to put these belligerent “Maduro-ites” in their place. The thinkers in the Venezuelan army know very well that the Americans are prepared to use Guyana as the guinea pig to morally seize the high ground and bring balance to the political situation in Venezuela once and for all. So let Senor Maduro try!

So I find the position of Team Granger very immoral as they try to milk a non-issue as the reason to swindle the nation. But it is never too late, and finally we have the Production Sharing Agreement, thanks to the work of people Chris Ram and the at political opposition.

Pleaselike share your thoughts sasesin1@yahoo.com.

11

he A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Councillor, Ron Persaud, wrote to the Mayor and City Councillors of the City of Georgetown seeking permission to set up a used oil refinery within the confines of the City. Mayor Patricia Chase Green read the letter at Wednesday’s Statutory Meeting.

“I would like to inform you of setting up a mini used oil refinery. This can produce hydraulic lubricant of 10 barrels per day so we can recycle used oil in the city. I discussed this in part with the Solid Waste Director, Mr Walter Narine, and I would like to, now, formally begin the process,” the letter stated.

“There is a facility like this in Tobago just commissioned.

We should also be able to get funding through the Low Carbon

APNU Councillor Ron Persaud

Development Strategy or Norwegian Region Funds among others. There are also two ways of getting between $100-500 million in revenue by getting central government to implement a used oil disposal fee. The finished product can bring in between $35-50 million as a revenue base per year,” the letter added.

Persaud is the representative for Constituency Seven which comprises Bourda-Stabroek CentralLacytown.

Automotive oil recycling involves the recycling of used oils and the creation of new products from the recycled oils, and includes the recycling of motor oil and hydraulic oil. Oil recycling also aids in the preservation of the environment by lessening the likelihood of used oil being dumped on land and in waterways.

Used oil re-refining is the process of restoring used oil to new oil by removing chemical impurities, heavy metals and dirt. The used oil is first tested to determine suitability for re-refining, after which it is dehydrated and the water distillate is treated before being released into the environment.

Dehydrating also removes the residual light fuel that can be used to power the refinery, and additionally captures ethylene glycol for reuse in recycled antifreeze.

12

friday, december 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

with

at F

rom King Bubba to Destra, Skinny Fabulous and Nailah, Guyana’s number one party spot has outdone itself for the festive season but there is one more to go and it is deemed the biggest party ever, featuring the King of the dancehall, himself, Beenie Man. The party spot is making sure that it ends a fabulous and memorable 2017 in the entertainment industry with a bang and from the time this announcement was made, dancehall fans have been making preparations.

From outfits to do overs and adding that touch of flair

to their nails and hair, it is expected that fans will undoubtedly dress to impress on Old Year’s Night as they ring in the New Year with the King of the dancehall.

No stranger to Guyana, Beenie Man has had sold out shows and would have left a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his energetic performances.

This time around, those in attendance will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with the artiste and more so snap a photo.

Apart from the main performance, one of the main at-

tractions is the ball-drop at the stroke of midnight along with a countdown – a tradition of Palm Court.

VIP tickets for the event cost $20,000 and will include admission, premium drinks, breakfast and finger foods while the general admission will cost $8000 with admission to the concert and breakfast.

This year, breakfast includes pepper pot and bread, salt fish and bake and mixed meat cook-up. To reserve tickets for the event, please contact the marketing department on telephone numbes 231-8144-6.

for Albion on Old Year’s Night

T

he Albion Community Centre Ground will once again come alive on Old Year’s Night when Chutney Soca Resolution is held to ring in the New Year. The event is promoted by Dreamz Unlimited Promotion and will feature live performances by several regional and local artistes.

Trinidad’s Chutney Soca artiste Saleem Beharry, also called “Master Saleem” is expected to perform before a large audience along with GI, Mystic, Steven Ramphal, Bunty Singh, Saint, Righteous and Kady Kish.

In addition, “Party Boss” WR Reaz along with Deejay Dauren, Selector Andy and others will add some flavour to the show with the best hits and mixes on the console.

The Shalita Dancers and the Shakti Strings Orchestra will add some steam to the party.

One of the main attractions will be the fireworks display at the stroke of midnight. Tickets for the event cost $1500 in advance and $2000 for vehicle passes. These tickets will be available at Imran and Sons and Imran and Daughter General Store; Fresh Direct – Albion; Sankar and Sons – Williamsburg; Sensation Phone Store – Springlands; Turning Wheels – Rose Hall and Sham Beer Garden.

Gates open at 18:00h with showtime commencing at 20:00h.

T

eam MMR’s Chutney Soca Indian (CSI) event was dubbed a huge success over the past weekend, with scores of supports and well-wishers in attendance. This evening, the team is doing it again with another concept party titled, “Last Wine for 2017” at the Ultra District Lounge, Giftland Mall.

The event is Team MMR’s way of saying thank you for the support in 2017 as it looks forward for your continued support in 2018.

Although 2017 was a huge success for Team MMR, its focus into the New Year will be one with a difference and lots of surprises as its founder, “Party Boss” WR Reaz further

pursues his musical career.

However, this evening, Selector Andy and the team will ensure that those in attendance have a blast as they say good bye to 2017 and welcome 2018. Selector Andy will be assisted by Deejay Golden Chyld who is no stranger to the console.

During the fabulous night, there will be drink specials to suit your pocket and confetti to add that touch to the festivities.

Ladies will be admitted free before 21:00h.

If they miss that offer, then the charge will be $2000 at the door. Remember, it’s the last wine for 2017 at District Ultra Lounge hosted by Team MMR.

Black

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, december 29, 2017

13

&White – Affair –

O

on Sunday

ne of the most sophisticated parties this Old Year’s Night will definitely be the “Black and White Affair” at Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The evening gets underway at 20:00h in the Roraima ballroom.

Males and females will dress to impress for this once in a lifetime event.

The ballroom will be decorated with the theme colours to set the mood for the evening.

Those in attendance will be treated to a 4-course dinner after which they can rock the night away with non-stop music by an elite deejay. In addition, each guest will have a

complimentary glass of Champagne at the stroke of midnight, as well as rocking party favours and hats.

This year however, the hotel has two options to choose from. The first is a package for $40,000 per couple and it will include dinner, accommodation, party favour and a complementary glass of champagne and breakfast.

The other package costs $20,000 per couple and will include dinner and party favours as well as a complementary glass of champagne at the stroke of midnight. For ticket reservation, persons are asked to contact the hotel on telephone number 265-7004.

O

ver the past week, Club 704 has been causing some damage to its foundation with several high quality parties featuring several regional artistes and to close off another successful year, the club is making sure its fans enjoy themselves to the maximum.

As such, to end the year on a high note, Jamaican dancehall artiste Aidonia will be in the house and will definitely set the stage on fire with his hits.

Sheldon Lawrence, more popularly known as “Aidonia” is a musician and also the head of the musical partnership “J.O.P.”, which has a contract under The Alliance label. He became active in early 2004, and has released albums on the record labels, VP Records and Jag One Productions.

It all started back in 1993 after watching a clash between Beenie Man and his icon Bounty Killer. Aidonia decided to become a deejay.

He began re-enacting the clash for classmates and friends, writing his own lyrics

and formed the JAG1 crew with friends. He has since launched several albums under the J.O.P partnership.

In the latter part of 2004, Aidonia was approached by Cordell “Skatta”’ Burrell who invited him to record at his studio. Two months later, Aidonia had his first hit – the song “Lolly” which was done on Skatta’s Irish Dance riddim.

In October 2005, “Lolly” was included on VP Records’ annual “Strictly The Best” compilation.

In 2011, the artiste pushed forward his J.O.P members – Deablo, Shokryme, Jayds, Tanso, and Size 10. The group has had a few hit collaborations such as “All 14”, and “Run Road”.

Some of his hit songs to date include “Yeah Yeah”, “IG Girls”, Hot Tool”, “Nun Boring Gyal” and others.

However, the event titled “Ignite” will also feature Remar, an upcoming dancehall artiste.

Music for the night will be juggled by Deejay Gully Ras, Selector Diamond and Deejay Tallest.

Door to the event opens at 21:00h.

“Under the Stars at Midnight” @ Pegasus poolside on Old Year’s Night

for

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on New Year’s Day

fter a rollicking night at the various New Year’s Eve parties, the place to be for a wash down is definitely HJ Water World at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The management has planned a matured people’s party called “Big People Party” featuring “Super Ray” and “Stitchie” One Man Bands.

The duo is known for their performances and will have their fans rocking away into the night with their fabulous selections.

Apart from the performances, the BOOM deejays will be in the house shelling it down.

If you missed the Christmas delicacies

such as pepper pot, garlic pork, black cake and others, the place to be is HJ Water World. There will also be cocktails and other drinks to go with the tasty foods that will be on sale.

Admission to the HJ Water World on January 1, 2018 for the “Big People Party” is $1000 at the gate. Gates open at 16:00h with the deejays setting the tone for the night. The performers will appear on state later. No firearms will be allowed into the venue as Guyanese celebrate the start of the New Year in grand style.

A

s Guyanese prepare to ring in the New Year, several parties are planned that will definitely set the tone to a bright start in 2018. From concept parties to concerts, the hype is among Guyanese who are making final preparations for the big night.

This year around, Pegasus will host its annual New Year’s Eve party called “Under the Stars at Midnight”, slated for the poolside.

The event is expected to be spectacular and with a touch of sophistication.

The event is primarily planned for couples who would enjoy a night with stars

shining down on them as they partake in a sumptuous buffet dinner.

Then they can indulge in some dancing as music is being provided by the Caribbean Hot Shots Band – a band that is known for his versatility. The musicians are well experience and will know what type of music to play so that patrons can have a memorable evening.

Tickets for “Under the Stars at Midnight” cost $12,000 per person and will include dinner. There will also be a premium bar available. Tickets are available at the front desk but persons can also call 225-2853 to reserve their tickets.

14 news

friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 7 overseer killed by speeding car …in Bartica

T

he mining town of Bartica was plunged into mourning after a senior official attached to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven was struck down and killed by a speeding motor car on Wednesday evening.

Dead is 54-year-old Mark Dutchin, the overseer of the Works Department at the RDC. According to information received, the incident occurred at around 21:00h on Wednesday evening, while Dutchin was in the vicinity of 3rd and 5th Streets, Bartica.

The man was reportedly heading to his Lot 24 Housing Scheme, Bartica home, having departed a karaoke, when he met his demise. Persons in the area recalled see-

ing the taxi, driven by a young man, speeding down the roadway, and soon after, they heard a crashing sound.

The impact caused Dutchin to sustain injuries to his head and to have his legs and arms broken. He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

When contacted, his wife, Valli Dutchin, explained that her husband had left home on Wednesday for work as normal. “He had a meeting during the day; so, after work, he went to the karaoke -- something he normally does,” she recounted.

The grieving woman said she was at home when she received the news about the accident, and without hesitation, she

curred, they are urging the Police to conduct a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, the Police

have since arrested the driver of the vehicle, who remains in custody as investigations into the fatal

accident continue. Dutchin leaves to mourn his wife and two children among other relatives and friends.

Verdict pending in lawsuit over 2011 CAL plane crash in Guyana Dead: Mark Dutchin

and other family members rushed to the hospital. She noted that by the time she arrived at the medical facility, he was already dead.

“His head was injured, his arms broken, his legs broken, his ribs broken… he get lots of injuries…,” the woman cried. She noted that while family members have been receiving various reports of what oc-

Flashback: The CAL plane when it crashed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri back in 2011

A

federal judge is considering whether an airline should pay damages to a Connecticut woman who has been injured in a plane crash that occurred in Guyana in 2011.

According to the Associated Press (AP), Judge Michael Shea in Hartford presided over a three-day, non-jury trial earlier this month in a lawsuit by Waterbury resident Indrawatie Shiwbodh against Caribbean Airlines.

The judge is expected to rule sometime after February 9, when final briefs are due.

Shiwbodh, formerly of East Haven, was among 157 passengers and six crew members on a Boeing 737 that overshot the runway and broke in half at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on July 30, 2011. No one died, but dozens were injured. The flight originated from Kennedy Airport in New York.

Investigators concluded that coordination between the captain and co-pilot broke down as the

plane landed, that the pilots failed to reduce excess power during landing, and that they did not use the plane's full deceleration capabilities.

The airline has settled all other claims in connection with the crash.

Lawsuits were filed by more than 150 other passengers, including Shiwbodh's husband and adult daughter, said John Maggio, a New York-based lawyer for Caribbean Airlines. Terms of the settlements are confidential, and the airline has not admitted to any wrongdoing in any of the cases, he said.

Shiwbodh's husband, Yadram, on Wednesday referred questions to the couple's lawyers, who did not return phone and email messages seeking comment.

Passengers on the plane have described how the landing initially seemed normal and there was applause, which quickly turned to screams, with people and luggage being tossed about the cabin.

According to the Associated Press, documents in Indrawatie Shiwbodh's court case say her head struck the seat in front of her, causing a laceration to her forehead that required several stitches to close.

While getting out of the wreck, she had to jump off a wing about 12 feet above the ground, aggravating a lower back injury and injuring her right knee and right ankle, the documents say.

Shiwbodh also suffered "substantial" mental trauma as well as financial damages from being unable to work because of her injuries, her attorneys said.

She said she has racked up more than US$125,000 in medical expenses and has lost more than US$130,000 in income.

Lawyers for the airline said in court documents that Shiwbodh's damages should be limited to the head wound and other injuries caused by the crash, and not the injuries that occurred after she jumped off the wing, according to AP.

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friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

16 news

friDAY, december 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

73-year-old woman succumbs East Bank pedestrian … after son sets her bed alight on Christmas morning

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73-year-old woman has succumbed to her burn injuries following days of hospitalisation after her son allegedly set her mattress on fire while she was resting on Christmas morning.

Dead is Mengree Dahri, called “Gladys”, of Gale Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

Investigations revealed that the elderly woman lived with her 43-year-old son and sometime around 10:00h

on Christmas Day, a nearby resident observed smoke emanating from the bottom flat of the two-storey house.

Upon further examination of the house, it was discovered that the victim was on a bed which was engulfed in flames. With the assistance of public spirited persons, the woman was evacuated and the fire extinguished.

Dahri was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing se-

vere burns about her body.

However, she succumbed on Thursday at about 06:30h, according to a Police report.

Meanwhile, her son has since been arrested and remains in Police custody.

The suspect, who is said to be an alcoholic, has admitted to setting the fire, which eventually killed his elderly mother.

A post-mortem is expected to be performed on the body of the 73-year-old woman today.

MV Canawaima to be docked for 9 days

T

he MV Canawaima ferry plying the Moleson Creek, Guyana to Nickerie, Suriname route will be docked for a nine-day period while it undergoes immediate restoration of both its engines.

This is according to Canawaima Ferry Services Terminal Manager Deyne Harry, who spoke of some of the projects scheduled for 2018 under this agency.

The nine-day docking period commences on January 6, 2018, and will conclude on January 14, 2018.

Harry also added that while the vessel would be docked, there would be no

Canawaima Ferry Services Terminal Manager Deyne Harry

other alternatives for the crossing from Guyana to Suriname. Persons using the ferry, especially vehicle

owners and motor vehicle operators, will be affected by the suspension of service.

Harry noted that “the MV Canawaima continues to experience extensive mechanical challenges that prompted the use of a tug to assist in the propulsion of a vessel”. This, he added, has resulted in delayed arrival and departure times for the ferry.

Presently, the ferry has one scheduled crossing daily. There is also another scheduled docking for the month of April 2018. Details pertaining to this will be provided in a timely manner to the public.

Mistaken identity?

Patentia man fined $20,000 for Boxing Day chopping over stolen bird – to pay $80,000 compensation to victim

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or actions that were based on hearsay, 48-year-old Ian Dorris, a Route 40 (KittyCampbellville) minibus driver, shop owner and resident of Patentia, West Bank Demerara, found himself on Thursday arraigned before Wales Magistrate Annette Singh.

He admitted to having unlawfully and maliciously wounded Gansarran Samaroo on December 26, 2017 because he assumed that Samaroo had stolen his bird from his premises.

Samaroo appeared in court limping, and with stiches to stab wounds inflicted to both his foot and upper body.

According to the Police Prosecutor’s facts, Dorris had his pet under his house when Samaroo, who also resides in Patentia, purchased liquor from his shop and left.

Dorris subsequently discovered that his bird was missing, and made checks about the neighbourhood.

Magistrate Singh was told that the accused made several enquiries from neighbours, who affirmed that it

Gansarran Samaroo

was the VC who had carried out the act.

The court heard that Dorris searched for, and contacted, Samaroo, then questioned him about the missing bird. Dorris then armed himself with a cutlass and dealt the victim several shops about the body before he took him to the Wales Police Station.

At the station, ranks observed the man’s injuries and took him to West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was treated and sent away with

a medical certificate. Police then cautioned Dorris and took him into custody for the offence.

After Dorris had agreed with the Prosecution’s facts, Magistrate Singh highlighted that the defendant should have carried Samaroo to the station before injuring him.

Ever remorseful, the accused said he had given the victim all the assistance that was required, but Samaroo was refusing his initial offer of $60,000 compensation and was demanding $120,000.

The two parties eventually agreed on $80,000, and half of that amount was paid on Thursday.

The Magistrate gave the defendant until next Thursday to pay the remaining $40,000. If he does not honour his obligation, he will spend three months in jail. Dorris was also fined $20,000.

Samaroo went out of court limping just as he had entered. He was not charged for larceny, and Guyana Times was told that it could have been someone else who had stolen Dorris’s bird.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

overpasses to open next year

W

hile construction of overpasses along the East Bank Demerara Highway is expected to be completed by year end, those facilities have not been opened because the elevators are now being manufactured.

Coordinator of the Work Services Group (WSG), Geoffrey Vaughn, explained that the elevators will be installed and be operational by March of 2018, to cater for the pedestrians using that highway.

Addressing a media conference on Thursday, the WSG coordinator said, “The contractors are presently wrapping up the project in terms of the overpass itself.

The only thing left to do is install the elevators.”

Some pedestrians have been seen utilising the overpass, especially at Peter’s Hall, EBD, and Vaughn has said a decision would have to be made as to whether to officially open them.

“We would have to have that discussion with the ministers, to see whether they would want us to go ahead and have it opened, or we wait. Because it is a disadvantage to those unable to use the stairways,” he told reporters.

The pedestrian overpass at Providence, East Bank Demerara

In October, Project Manager (ag), Donor Programmes (Ministry of Public Infrastructure), Mark Greene, had said that works were moving apace and are on schedule for the November deadline.

Greene explained that works completed thus far include provision of all bonds, insurances, guarantees, mobilisation, permanent relocation of utilities, and site clearance.

Foundation works, including piling, pile caps, concrete slabs, fabrication and erection of superstructure, stairways and landings (ongoing), and a revetment at Diamond and installation of main overpass structure are complete, along with a canopy at the Providence site.

Earlier in the year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had announced that a US$364,000 contract was awarded for the pedestrian overpass at Diamond, and a US$1 million contract for those at Houston, Peter’s Hall and Eccles.

The construction of the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall were awarded to B&J Civil Works, while those at Providence and Diamond were awarded to S. Jagmohan Hardware.

When completed, the pedestrian overpasses would not only eliminate congestion on the EBD road, which is among the busiest in the country, but would also keep pedestrians safe from fatal accidents.

New Head of State for Barbados – Madam Justice Sandra Mason to be second female to hold the post

I

n less than two weeks Barbados will have a new Governor General.

She is Madam Justice Sandra Prunella Mason.

Justice Mason, the first female Appeal Court Judge in this country and the first woman to be admitted to the Barbados Bar, will, when she becomes this country’s eighth Governor General, be the second female to hold that honour.

The announcement of her elevation to the office of Governor General came on Wednesday in a statement from Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Freundel Stuart, who indicated that Her Majesty The Queen, on the recommendation of Her Majesty’s Ministers in Barbados, has been gra-

Madam Justice Sandra Prunella Mason will be the Island’s next Governor General

ciously pleased to approve the appointment of The Honourable Sandra Mason as Governor-General of Barbados, with effect from January 8, 2018. Her ap-

pointment comes a little over six months since the seventh holder of that office, Sir Elliott Belgrave, retired on July 1, 2017 after five years of service.

The mother of one has had a long and successful legal career, which spans more than three decades. The role of Governor General is not one that Justice Mason is unfamiliar with, having served as acting Governor General from May 30, 2012 to June 1, 2012, when the country prepared to install Sir Elliott Belgrave in that post.

The installation ceremony for The Honourable Sandra Mason, will take place on Monday, January 8, 2018 in the Senate Chambers, one week before her 69th birthday. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

Chinese construction company sued in New York – over alleged wrongdoing in Bahamas megaresort project

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hina Construction America, Inc (CCA) and various related business entities have been sued in New York State court for, among other wrongdoings, engaging in massive fraud, malicious acts of deceit and interference, and breaches of contract as part of a multi-year self-enrichment scheme related to the Baha Mar Resort project in The Bahamas.

The lawsuit, filed by the project’s original own-

er, BML Properties Ltd, alleges ongoing and intentional misconduct by CCA. If the claims are upheld, CCA may face over $2.25 billion in liability for misleading and defrauding BML Properties and depriving it of its investment.

According to the lawsuit, it was CCA’s larger intent and financial interest to establish the Baha Mar project as a beachhead in the Americas and the Caribbean, train its un-

qualified workers and staff in order to obtain and then construct other projects throughout the Americas and Caribbean, and submit sham billings for hundreds of millions of dollars as the contractor and construction manager of the project.

CCA’s allegedly fraudulent and deceptive understaffing, combined with its alleged malicious conduct is said to have doomed the project to failure. (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

friDAY, december 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Brutal cold spell sets record lows across the US

Officials are warning people to take measures to prevent frostbite and hypothermia by bundling up in layers of warm clothing

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itter cold continues to blanket the northern United States and Canada as forecasters warn that the deep freeze will continue into the start of 2018.

International Falls in the US state of Minnesota – the self-proclaimed "Icebox of the Nation" – saw temperatures drop to -37F (-38.3C).

New Hampshire's Mount Washington, home of the "worst weather in the world", set a new low record at -34F (-36.6C). Parts of Canada are colder than the North Pole or Mars, officials say.

In Erie, Pennsylvania, where more than five feet (1.5 meters) of snow has fallen since Christmas Day, state National Guard troops have been deployed to help clear the "incredible amount" of snow.

Officials there say more snowfall is expected – and around the Great Lakes region – later this week. Parts of upstate New York also experienced nearly five feet of snowfall, with firefighters in the town of Lorraine reporting that they were forced to dig through the snow to res-

cue a woman stuck inside her home.

Weather officials say that higher winds are pushing temperatures even further down. Wind chill will keep temperatures below 0F (-17C) in New England as well as New York City and Philadelphia. Officials are warning people to take measures to prevent frostbite and hypothermia by bundling up in layers of warm clothing.

Forecasters add that any exposed skin can become frostbitten in less than 30 minutes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Suicide bombers kill dozens at Shi'ite centre in Afghan capital

S

uicide bombers stormed a Shi‘ite cultural centre and news agency in the Afghan capital on Thursday, killing more than 40 people and wounding scores, many of them students attending a conference.

Islamic State said in an online statement that it was responsible for the attack, saying the centre received support from Iran. It was the latest in a series that the movement has claimed on

Shi‘ite targets in Kabul.

Waheed Majrooh, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry said 41 people, including four women and two children, had been killed and 84 wounded, most suffering from burns.

The attack occurred during a morning panel discussion on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Sunnimajority Afghanistan at the Tabian Social and Cultural Centre, witnesses said.

The floor of the centre, at the basement level, was covered in blood as wailing survivors and relatives picked through the debris, while windows of the news agency, on the second floor, were all shattered.

Deputy Health Minister Feda Mohammad Paikan said 35 bodies had been brought into the nearby Istiqlal hospital. Television pictures showed many of the injured suffered serious burns. (Excerpt from Reuters)

17

Around the World

South Korea and Japan clash after Seoul dismisses deal on wartime sex slaves

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apan and South Korea are set on a diplomatic collision course after South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, dismissed as unworkable a 2015 agreement on Japan’s wartime use of sex slaves.

Moon said in a statement on Thursday the agreement was “seriously flawed” and “cannot solve” the countries’ longstanding dispute over the “comfort women” – a euphemism for tens of thousands of women and girls, mostly from the Korean peninsula, who were coerced into working in Japanese

military brothels before and during the second world war.

“This runs afoul of the established universal principle of the international community for settling history issues, and above all, it was a political agreement that excludes the victims themselves and citizens,” Moon said of the deal, according to Yonhap news agency.

“Along with citizens, I, as Ppresident, make it clear again that the comfort women issue can’t be settled through this deal.” Moon’s comments came a day af-

ter a South Korean government taskforce said the agreement, in which Japan agreed to provide funds for the dwindling number of survivors, had failed to take into account the former sex slaves’ feelings.

That drew an angry response from Japan’s foreign minister, Taro Kono, who warned that bilateral ties would become “unmanageable” if Seoul failed to honour the agreement, in which both sides pledged to resolve the dispute “finally and irreversibly”. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

George Weah elected Liberian President

F

ormer footballer George Weah is set to become Liberia's President at the second attempt. With most ballots from Tuesday's run-off vote counted, Weah is well ahead of opponent Joseph Boakai.

He will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female President, in Liberia's first democratic handover in decades. Mrs Sirleaf defeated Weah in the presidential election run-off in 2005, after the end of a brutal civil war.

As news of Weah's victory emerged on Thursday, his supporters began celebrating in the capital Monrovia. The former football star's campaign – under the Coalition for Democratic Change banner – appealed to the youth vote, while incumbent Vice President Boakai was seen as old and out of touch.

But Weah's election is not without controversy, as his running mate is Jewel Taylor, former wife of the warlord and ex-President Charles Taylor, who is serving a jail

Former footballer George Weah will become Liberia's President

sentence in the UK for war crimes. Weah, 51, won the first round of the presidential election in October with 38.4 per cent of the vote, compared with the 28.8 per cent won by second-placed Boakai, 73.

The failure of any candidate to secure an outright majority forced the run-off.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) said on Thursday that with 98.1 per

cent of the run-off vote counted, Weah had won 61.5 per cent of the vote while Boakai was far behind with 38.5 per cent.

Weah played for a string of football clubs, including AC Milan, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain, and is the only African footballer to have won both Fifa World Player of the Year and the Ballon D'Or.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, december 29, 2017

ARCHIE

Partnerships must be looked at objectively and de(March 21cisions made about the way April 19) you want to move forward.

Don’t act in haste. Take the time to discuss options and formulate solutions.

ARIES

Put a little muscle behind TAURUS your promises. The things you (April 20- do for someone you love will May 20) encourage similar gestures in return. Make good health, romance and togetherness your priority.

dilbert

Make a promise to take GEMINI better care of your health.

(May 21Negotiate on your own beJune 20) half to avoid getting mixed up in something that doesn’t fit into your plans.

Compromise will bring you closer to someone you (June 21- love and respect. Spending a July 22) romantic evening together or making plans to improve your living arrangements will turn out well.

CANCER

Peanuts

Take care of domestic LEO chores and responsibilities.

(July 23- You’ll feel at ease and ready Aug. 22) to ring in the new year if you are prepared mentally, physically and emotionally.

Taking a trip or attendVIRGO ing an event in your commu(Aug. 23nity will result in you making Sept. 22) a new acquaintance. Call family members you haven’t seen or heard from for some time.

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Take care of personal matters that you want to put to rest before the end of the year.

Don’t let friends or relatives put unrealistic emotional, financial or physical demands on you.

Look over your finances and SCORPIO make last-minute changes to en(Oct. 24sure you get tax benefits. Offer Nov. 22) someone you want to spend more time with something to look forward to. Plan something unusual.

An opportunity to get inSAGITTARIUS volved in something that in(Nov. 23- terests you should be looked Dec. 21) at carefully. Attend a meeting or presentation and collect information. A financial gain looks promising.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

Reconnect with someone CAPRICORN from your past. Looking back (Dec. 22at the year gone by will enJan. 19) courage you to wrap things up and begin 2018 on a high note.

You may feel like sharing

AQUARIUS personal data, but you are best (Jan. 20- off observing and gathering inFeb. 19) formation instead of doling it

out. Short trips will end up being expensive. Avoid making impulse purchases.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

A financial opportuniPISCES ty looks promising. Take the (Feb. 20time to follow through on it March 20)

before the year ends. You can negotiate and sign contracts or make a personal commitment.

friDAY, december 29, 2017

19

IPL changes could leave Gayle's future in limbo T

he Indian Premier League (IPL) future of Windies star Chris Gayle remains a curiosity after new stipulations from the competition’s governing council confirmed that a team can retain up to a maximum of five players ahead of the new season.

The 38-year-old seemed unlikely to be retained by the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the new campaign following a disappointing last two seasons where he played 19 matches in total and only managed to score 447 runs. The 2016 season was particularly disappointing as Gayle played nine matches but only managed to score 196 runs with the highest score being 46.

Gayle the all-time T20 runs scorer was surprisingly omitted from this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL), but rebounded with a strong performance in the Bangladesh Premier League) (BPL). Gayle force was in full effect in Dhaka during the 2017 final as Rangpur Riders beat Dhaka Dynamites to claim the title. Gayle scored 146 runs from just 69 balls. It was an innings glittered with 18 sixes, a world record for the number of sixes in a T20 match.

Gayle also performed heroics in the eliminator match against Khulna Titans, where he amassed a 51-ball 126, including six fours and 14 sixes. Both Gayle's centuries came after the IPL Governing Council (GC) confirmed the changes. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are expected to hold the team's number one and two spots but, with such kind of innings coming from Gayle's willow, RCB might be pondering on retaining the player if he was not previously in their plans as the third player for retention. (Sportsmax)

Ex-footballer elected Liberia President

F

ormer Chelsea, Manchester City and AC Milan striker George Weah will be the next president of Liberia.

Weah, 51, became the first non-European player to win the Ballon d'Or in 1995 - just one of many achievements over a prolific 18-year professional career that ended in 2003.

He entered politics after his retirement and had been serving as a senator in Liberia's parliament.

His victory was announced

by Liberia's National Elections Commission on Thursday - it said that with 98.1% of ballots counted, Weah had won 61.5% of the vote.

He will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president. She defeated Weah in elections in 2005, held shortly after the end of a brutal civil war.

For a few years in the 1990s, Weah was among the best strikers in world football.

Capable of scoring all sorts of goals, his most famous moment came while playing for AC Milan in 1996 when he scored a solo effort against Verona which started in his own penalty area and saw him dribble past almost an entire team.

First brought to Europe by Arsene Wenger at Monaco in 1988, Weah scored 47 league goals for the club in four years before a move to Paris StGermain. There he won the league title in 1994 and was the top scorer in the Champions League a year later - finishing ahead of Jari Litmanen, Romario and Hristo Stoichkov - before moving to Milan in 1995.

Playing alongside Roberto Baggio, Weah won Serie A in his first season with the club and won it again in 1999

but eventually fell out of favour and had short spells with both Chelsea and Manchester City in the Premier League.

But he scored just four goals in the English top flight though before returning to France - though he did add the FA Cup to his trophy collection with the Blues.

At international level, Weah was unable to help Liberia reach a World Cup but he did play in two Cup of Nations, scoring against Mali in 2002.

Weah is not the first sports star to move from the pitch to the political world.

Sebastian Coe went from Olympic champion to the House of Lords, via the Commons, and is now head of athletics' world governing body the IAAF. One of Britain's greatest Paralympic athletes, Tanni Grey-Thompson won 11 gold, four silver and a bronze medal at five Paralympic Games. In 2005, she became a Dame and in March 2010 was made a life peer and sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Grey-Thompson.

Cricketer Imran Khan captained Pakistan to victory at the 1992 World Cup, but he has spent the past 20 years in politics. He formed the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf party in 1996 and has been leade r of the opposition s i n c e 2013.

Chess legend Garry Kasparov stood for the Russian presidency in 2007 and is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin. He is chairman of the Human Rights Foundation.

As a boxer, Manny Pacquiao won world titles at five weights over a 12year career, with his pay-per-view fights earning a reported $1.2bn (£893m). But he is now a senator in the Philippines.

Vitali Klitschko, the three-time world heavyweight champion boxer is mayor of Kiev in his native Ukraine.

He has previously spoken of his desire to run for the country's presidency. (BBC)

George Weah will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female President

A

Sanchez scores twice as Arsenal beat Palace

lexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal won at Crystal Palace to move within a point of fourth-placed Liverpool.

Shkodran Mustafi opened the scoring when he poked in after Palace keeper Julian Speroni parried Alexandre Lacazette's shot.

The hosts caught out a static Arsenal defence early in the second half to equalise - Andros Townsend turning in Wilfried Zaha's cross from close range.

Sanchez restored the Gunners' lead when he squeezed a clinical strike in at Speroni's near post before the Chile international added a third four minutes later, bringing Jack Wilshere's superb ball under control and flicking into the net.

Palace set up a nervy finish when James Tomkins headed home from a corner inside the final minute, but Arsenal held on to ensure Arsene Wenger marked equalling Sir Alex Ferguson's record of managing in 810 Premier League games with a victory.

After three draws and just one win from their four previous Premier League outings, this

was arguably an important game for the Gunners in their bid to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish, especially after wins for rivals Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea in midweek.

They started the day with six points fewer than they had at the same stage last season - and Wenger's side ultimately finished outside the Champions League places - so a positive result and performance was needed to help ease any Arsenal fans' concerns their campaign was in danger of fizzling out.

For large periods, the performance was certainly there. The visitors often produced some of their best attacking play of the season, particularly in the first half when Palace could not cope with short, intricate passing that time and again opened up the defence.

But their inability to finish off the many opportunities they created meant their opponents always had a chance to get back into the game. That proved the case early in the second half when Zaha's cross caught Arsenal's defence asleep and Townsend struck. (BBC)

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friDAY, december 29, 2017

Cook's masterful 244* builds commanding lead

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lastair Cook struck a masterful, unbeaten double-century to drive England into a position of dominance on 491 for nine at the end of day three of the fourth Ashes test on Thursday.

The former England captain strode off the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 244 not out, the highest ever score by a touring batsman at the venue, having pushed his side to a first innings lead of 164 runs.

Stuart Broad provided gallant support with a swashbuckling 56, sharing a 100-run ninth-wicket partnership that crushed the spirits of a demoralised attack and trampled on Australia’s hopes of whitewashing the series.

The urn may be gone with England an irretrievable 3-0 down in the five-match series, but Joe Root’s team will savour the finest day of the campaign and are well-placed to grab a consolation win.

Cook smashed a straight drive past bowler Jackson Bird for his 23rd four to raise his fifth double-century in 360 balls, triggering a standing ovation from the crowd of 61,839.

It was not a chanceless innings, however, with Australia captain Steve Smith dropping him on 66 on Wednesday and again on 153.

The pitch was a batsman’s paradise and the Australian attack shorn of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc, but England’s most prolific run-scorer may remember few more gratifying innings in his 151 tests.

“Probably one of the more emotional (ones)... from where I’d been on this tour,” Cook, who was woefully out of form prior to Melbourne, told reporters of his 409-ball knock.

“It meant a lot last night and then today I was quite proud that I managed to back it up after all the emotion came out yesterday.

To get a real big one for the team was really important.”

Cook, who resumed on 104 not out, capped a memorable day with a sumptuous cover drive for four off all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, lifting him past Brian Lara to sixth on the all-time test runs list.

Broad was brave in support, wearing a short-pitched battering before paying Australia’s pacemen back in an counter-attacking innings of eight fours and a six.

He bookended his fifty with two fours off Pat Cummins before holing out with a miscued pull that was caught in the deep by a diving Usman Khawaja, with replays suggesting the fielder may have spilled the ball onto the turf as he rolled over.

Stuart Broad is struck by a Josh Hazlewood bouncer © Getty Images

Clumsy attempt

England resumed on 360-6 after tea, before Chris Woakes quickly fell for 26 after gloving a catch behind from a clumsy attempt at a pull shot and debutant Tom Curran added just four runs before edging Josh Hazlewood to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

Bravo booked for Swiss Ice Cricket tourney

Broad came to the wicket and was hit on the shoulder by a bouncer from paceman Hazlewood but the tail-ender weathered the barrage to slog England past 400.

England’s batting had been brittle throughout the series, but for once the wickets fell slowly rather than in clumps.

Cook and Root had built a 138-run partnership before the England captain fell for 61 in the morning, mistiming a pull shot straight to Nathan Lyon at deep square leg.

Dawid Malan squandered his wicket for 14 when he failed to review an lbw decision despite edging the ball from Hazlewood.

It was the second England wicket to fall lbw with a nick in the innings, with number three James Vince failing to review his dismissal on the second day.

Off-spinner Lyon struck twice after lunch to reduce England to 307-6, with Jonny Bairstow (22) and Moeen Ali (20) both falling to poor shot selections.

Having dismissed Moeen for the sixth time in the series, Lyon gave the all-rounder a generous verbal spray as he trudged off after driving in the air to Shaun Marsh at short cover.

Cook and Woakes then steadied England with a vital 59-run partnership that pushed them past Australia’s first innings 327 before Broad helped extend the lead out past three figures.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann con-

cede d

t h e h o s t s ’ whitewash b i d w a s all but over.

“We’ll have to get 450 in a day.

How do you want us to do that?

Slog?” he said. “ F r o m our point of view we’ll just be hopefully batting the day and reassessing what happens after tomorrow.” (Reuters) Alastair Cook brought up his fifth Test double century © Getty Images

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings 327 England 1st innings (Overnight: 192-2) A. Cooknot out M. Stonemanc&b Lyon J. Vincelbw b Hazlewood J. Rootc Lyon b Cummins D. Malanlbw b Hazlewood J. Bairstowc Paine b Lyon M. Alic S. Marsh b Lyon C. Woakesc Paine b Cummins T. Curranc Paine b Hazlewood

244 15 17 61 14 22 20 26 4

S. Broadc Khawaja b Cummins 56 J. Andersonnot out 0 Extras(b-4 lb-5 nb-3)12 Total(for 9 wickets, 144 overs) 491 Fall of wickets: 1-35 M. Stoneman,2-80 J. Vince,3-218 J. Root,4-246 D. Malan,5-279 J. Bairstow,6-307 M. Ali,7-366 C. Woakes,8-373 T. Curran,9-473 S. Broad Bowling: Hazlewood 30 - 5 - 95 – 3, Bird 30 - 5 - 108 – 0, Lyon 42 - 9 - 109 – 3, Cummins29 - 1 117 – 3, Marsh 12 - 1 - 42 – 0, Smith 1 - 0 - 11 - 0

Mental balance key on South Africa tour – Kohli

I W

indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will be among a host of stars that have signed up for the inaugural St Moritz Ice Cricket competition to be held in Switzerland.

The unusual competition will be held on the lake of St Moritz from Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th February 2018 and is one of the biggest on the Swiss cricketing calendar. The lake freezes into an extremely thick layer of ice which then gets covered by the soft falling snow, enabling the lake to withstand more than 200 tons of weight, which makes it a good area to construct a

pavilion village and grandstands to watch and support the festivities.

Bravo will be joined by Pakistan's Abdul Razzaq, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Shoaib Akhtar, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Michael Hussey, Jacques Kallis, Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Grant Elliot, Monty Panesar, Shahid Afridi, Graeme Smith and Owais Shah.

The cricketers have been divided into two teams -Badrutt's Palace Diamonds and Royals. (Sportsmax)

ndia will need mental toughness as much as consistent performances with bat and ball if they are to record their first test series victory in South Africa, captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday.

Kohli, who was rested during India’s Twenty20 series win against Sri Lanka earlier this month, urged his team to embrace the testing conditions they will experience on tour, which are traditionally more suited to the fast bowlers.

“You need to play cricket for long period of time to win abroad,” Kohli told a news conference.

“The hunger this time is the same.

We want to do what we couldn’t the last time around.

“Cricket is played with bat and ball and if you are there mentally, every condition seems like a home condition.

You have to embrace the local culture to be able to do well there. The excitement is very important to be able to do well.”

India have retained their number one spot in the test rankings on the back of a formidable home record, but Kohli reckons his team have the oppor-

India Captain Virat Kohli (right) and Coach Ravi Shastri addressing the media ahead of their departure for South Africa

tunity to improve further during trips to South Africa, England, Australia and New Zealand over the next 18 months.

“You need to take up the challenges while travelling to places like South Africa, England and Australia because you go there once and then you won’t travel there for a long time because of the way scheduling is done,” the 29-year-old added.

“The conditions would be testing

but this one and a half year will define this Indian team and the whole team is aware of this.”

India have played 17 tests against the Proteas in South Africa, winning two and losing on eight occasions.

Seven tests ended in draws.

India will play three tests beginning on Jan. 5 in Newlands, Cape Town. They also face South Africa in six one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches. (Reuters)

FRIDAY, december 29, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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lans by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) MS to widely expand its cricket developmental programme in 2018 received a massive boost when Canada Surplus (Guyana) donated $100 000.00 and a large quantity of educational materials.

The donation which was organised by Club Member Royston Crandon was timely since the club unveiled major plans to expand its developmental programme.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to the Company and its President Pramchand Pitam Punwasi for the contribution which would be used to purchase cricket balls and coaching equipment for the cricket season.

Foster stated that the programme is scheduled to start in February 2018 due to massive restoration work being done on the Area ‘H’ Ground and the current rainy season. Once the upgrade of the ground is completed, the club would start an all year training programme consisting of an Elite 50-Member Junior Squad.

The elite training squad would contain the likes of Kelvin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Chanderpaul Govindan, Tyrese Sealey, Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Vijay Gopilall, Lucas Arthur, Sylus Tyndall, Uma Matadin, Mariam Samaroo, Angelino Ramdihal, Christopher Deroop, Matthew Pattaya, Reyad Rahaman, Joshua Wilson, Matthew Prass, Tyrese Park, Vishal Naidu, Sanjay Singh and Jeremy Sandia.

The Programme will include three days compulsory cricket practice, daily physical fitness sessions, classroom lectures and a series of cricket matches against other cricket clubs drawn from across Guyana.

A monthly junior cricketer incentive scheme to honour outstanding players, personal cricket gears for members and assistance for club members to attend school.

Educational matters on the history, rules, tradition and records of cricket while plans would be forwarded on the construction of an indoor cricket practice facility.

The long serving Club Official also praised local Manager of the Company Ramsundar Bisnauth and Crandon for making the donation possible. Crandon, a former West Indies One Day International play expressed the club had invested heavily into his career and as such he was pleased to get his friend to assist the Club so that others can benefit.

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T

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) will host a national qualifier for teams ahead of the 20 18 International Basketba ll Foundation (IBF) Antilles 3X3 U18 Championships for Men & Women in St. Marteen.

The trials which tipsoff from 09:30 hrs at the Burnham Court on Saturday has seen 10 teams

register to date and caters for players born January 1, 2000 or after.

GABF will be hoping they can once again find powerful team since at last year championships in St Lucia, the likes of Jamal Gilkes, Jonathan Mangra, Stanton Rose and Timothy Thompson made history by reaching the final against Martinique only to suffer their only lost 8-9. Rose fell

short of the MVP by virtue of Guyana losing the Finals by one point in the last nine seconds of the game.

On their path to the final Guyana would have defeated the likes of Barbados, Curacao, Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Vincent, Aruba and Guadeloupe.

However, their recent history in the format will be cause of concern since the team of Akeem

Crandon, Isaiah Hintzen, Nigel Bowen and Shamar France had a forgettable outing at the South American Youth Games 3X3 basketball championship in Santiago, Chile this October.

Guyana had suffered an antagonising 11-13 loss against Ecuador which was then capped off with an embarrassing 21-2 defeat to Venezuela.

22 GBA exploring possibility of overseas stints for Allicock, Lewis

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, december 29, 2017

A

Collin Lewis

head of the 2018 Commonwealth Games which are slated to be held in Australia from April 4-15, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is exploring avenues to have

its two attendees Keevin Allicock and Collin Lewis be engaged in foreign training camps.

According to GBA President Steve Ninvalle, while not written in stone, the city of Sydney in Australia seems a possibility for the duo’s stint but they are still seeking to solidify the option with the help of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

“We are speaking with GOA and there plans to the fighters on overseas stints prior to the Games. We would have spoken to former World Champion Gary St Clair who lives in Sydney to have the train at the boxers train at his gym at least six weeks to two months before the Games”.

Other possible options would come from Kazakhstan and England. Allicock, who is this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist promises to be one of the country’s best options in securing a medal when he competes in the bantamweight category.

Lewis is not to be forgotten either since he deemed the best boxer earlier this year at the ‘International Nuff Cuff’ event and is expected to bring the action once again in the junior welterweight.

The 21st edition of the Games will see the men will face off in the Light Flyweight division for the speed machines who weigh 46 – 49kg right up to

Champs Silver Shattas face Botafago test – Net Rockers battle Eagles United

Net Rockers’ Clarence Huggins

Keevin Allicock the Super Heavyweight division for the power punchers above 91kg.

Road to Mecca IV Final

Colts go back-to-back

with thrilling victory over Royals

respectively.

Bounty Colt’s Shane Webster copped the accolade for Most Valuable Player. Webster had a tournament total of 95 Points, 58 Rebounds, 8 Steals and 4 Assists and received $100,000 for his efforts.

Meanwhile the Royals’ Harold Adams racked up the most points scored in the Tournament with 122 Points while Webster had the most rebounds snatching 58. Adams and Webster received $50,000 each.

The second placed Victory Valley Royals received $400,000 for their valiant effort.

In the third place playoff the Kobras Beat Dynas Back-to-back! The Bounty Colts became the first team to win the National Club Championships Ravens by a single point (75consecutively 74) to pocket $200,000. efending National Anderson Sports Hall Colts Stanton Rose and Shane The Kobras were led by basketball club led by an impressive perfor- Webster who recorded 12 Travis Burnette with 34 champions, the mance from Shelroy Thomas and 11 points respectively. points while Mark Richards Putting up a stern re- and Jermaine Slater had 12 Bounty Colts retained their managed to pip the Victory title with a narrow victory Valley Royals by two points sistance for the Royals and 11 points respectively. over Victory Valley Royals to retain their title and walk was Harold Adams with Dynas Ravens put up a 25 points; Adams support- good fight but fell just short on Christmas Eve and made away with $600,000.

Thomas racked up 28 ing cast came in the form as Dominic Vincente turned history by becoming the first club to win the Road to points, 5 steals and 2 blocks of Orlan Glasgow who con- in an admirable 21 points Mecca the title consecutive- to help the Colts to an 85- tributed 19 points while while Ryan Stephney and 83 victory. Thomas was ably Chris Williams and Yannick Tyrone Hamid had 14 and ly.

Playing at the Cliff assisted Dave Causway, Tappin had 13 and 12 points 17 points respectively.

D

UDFA/GT Beer semi-finals

T

he semi-finals of the fifth annual Upper Demerara Football Association / GT Beer year-end tournament will be played tonight at the McKenzie Sports Club Ground and some intriguing duels are expected.

At 19:00 hrs defending champions Silver Shattas will take on Botafago. On Wednesday night Botafago booked themselves a final’s four slot with a 3-0 whipping of Topp XX as Net Rockers knocked out Blueberry Hill by a 6-4 score-line.

Botafago playing in the first semi-final will likely have Ronaldo Hernandez between the uprights as Kevin David will be the central defender, Jashawn Moore in the middle with Donovan Francis joining the strike force of the Haynes brothers Jamal and Shane.

In seeking to make a successful title defence Shattas will likely suit up with Kellon Major in goal with the defence surrounding Romel Matthews with Dexter Garraway scheming in tandem with Michael Wilson while goal scoring Robin Adams, Damion Williams, young Jehu Regis and Jamine Samuels up front.

The second at 21.00hrs is between Eagles U n i t e d a n d Net Rockers.

Eagles are building their hopes on the likes of the experienced C l i v e

DeNobrega in the middle to hold things together as he has up front Kwesi Quintin, and Kellon Primo feed while at the back line is randy Small. But Net Rockers Coach ‘Axe-Man’ Wills thinks he has the right chemistry to take him all the way without mentioning players. He said the goals that they gave up in their last game were because of a miscalculation as he wanted to rest some players.

However he said they are going to show their worth in a concentrated play of total football.

Botafago’s Donovan Francis

friDAY, december 29, 2017

Sports can create positive change

guyanatimesgy.com

23

for inmates – Norton

– donates gym equipment to Camp St Prison

A

fter the catastrophic fire earlier this year at the Camp Street prison, the Republican Gym housed in the compound was razed to the ground and all the boxing equipment reduced to rubble.

However, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr George Norton through his Ministry made a timely donation to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) on Thursday at the GPS Sports Bar on Camp and Bent Streets.

Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony, the Minister noted that the reform and success of some prisoners through boxing is remarkable. He also

$50M

multipurpose facility completed in Bartica

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones

T

maintained that it is “good that the government can take this approach to persons incarcerated in the prison system. I say this because we have to give the opportunity to those persons to adapt more healthy lifestyles and to make better use of their lives. I congratulate the prison service for their recent graduation ceremony where several inmates were successful. It is the rehabilitation, the reorientation and the changes in values that is important.”

It is through boxing and sports Minister Norton maintained that the changes in values and discipline can be effected.

“We [Ministry of Social Cohesion] will not be left be-

he works that was scheduled to be carried out on the multipurpose centre in Bartica has been completed. This will see the facility being commissioned in the new two weeks and handed over to the authorities in the Town by Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton and other officials.

This was disclosed by the Director of Sport Christopher Jones during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI). The multipurpose centre is an aspect of sport development coming out of the 2017 National Budget.

Jones said that the $50M facility “now boast of a volleyball court, an enhanced football field with proper drainage, an enhancement to the basketball court and the addition of bleachers to accommodate the various athletes there.” The fa-

cility is also outfitted with a cricket pitch and lights which will allow athletes to participate in sporting events at nights.

The realization of the facility came about due to the Mayor and Councillors of the recently established town made a request to have the facility which was then followed up by a site visit by the National Sports Commission conduct to determine the most suitable location.

Additionally, it was highlighted by the Sport Director that the sum of $6M has been allocated for works to be being carried out on the Mon Grippa Hill ground through the ground enhancement fund. The monies will see the entire ground being fenced along ensuring that the ground is even among other things.

According to Jones, the step was taken to have the ground enhanced because “the lead up to inter-house and inter-school championship activities, the only space, is the Bartica community centre ground and many times due to the weather, the ground is inaccessible. So, the Mon Grippa Hill Ground is going to be the alternative venue for them so at least if one ground is out because of the weather, the other will be available to them.”The works on that ground is expected to be completed early 2018. (DPI)

Inmate Jason “AK 47” Barker has channelled the adversities of prison into a promising boxing career

hind, we know there are many sportsmen out there who are inmates and we would be happy if we could help them to continue in their respective discipline.

However there is something special about boxing, it is in boxing that Guyana landed their only Olympic medal, albeit bronze” he declared.

Meanwhile Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels pointed out that the donation is timely as the Republican Gym earlier this year dethroned the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym at the national championships and it would be a travesty for the gym to “go down the drain”, he also bemoaned the fact that Jason “AK 47” Barker

was unable to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Championships in Antigua due to him not being able to train after the fire.

“I would like to thank Minister Norton and his team for items that have been donated today (Thursday), I also want to urge the public and private sector to help us. We’ve seen change through boxing as sometimes you have a bad inmate, we put them in the ring and over time we see wholesale changes” Samuels revealed. The items that were donated included weight lifting benches, bowflex machines, boxing gloves, protective helmets and guards as well as dumbells.

(Michelangelo Jacobus)

GFF/Corona ‘Super 16’ tournament

Matthews, Garnett

architects of Grove’s heist on Police

T

he Grove Hi-Tech outfit was on the happier end of a thrilling upset victory over the Guyana Police Force FC in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Corona Super 16 tournament.

A star studded Police FC were stunned on Wednesday night at the National Track and Field Facility in Leonora as minnows Grove Hi-Tech beat them late in extra time.

Following a thrilling game in which Police took the lead late in the second half through Quincy Holder in the 72nd minute, Grove Hi-Tech managed to equalize in the last minute of normal time through Domini Garnett. Garnett’s equalizer meant that the game went into extra time with the score locked at 1-1.

However the Police men failed to impose themselves as even guest player Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson could not pull them over the finish line, but Grove’s fleet footed winger Nicholai Matthews popped up in the second half of extra time (112th minute) to sink the winning goal in the back of the law men’s net.

In the other quarter final, Fruta Conquerors FC inflicted a 5-0 drubbing on Buxton United to seal their semi-final berth.

Braces from Eon Alleyne and veteran striker Anthony “Awo” Abrams ensured that the men in Orange had a comfortable victory.

It was action from the get go as

In the other quarter-final, Fruta Conquerors FC inflicted a 5-0 drubbing on Buxton United. Fruta scorers from left: Jermaine Junior, Anthony Abrams and Eon Alleyne

Alleyne wasted no time slotting his first goal home after just two minutes while the ever dangerous Jermin Junior doubled their money the 35th minute but that would be all for the first half.

After the break, the Alleyne and Abrams show began as first Alleyne struck his second in the 65th minute. After coming off the bench in the 70th minute, Abrams wasted no time and once again proved his worth by finding the back of the net in the 71st minute, his next goal would in the 86th minute and the Buxton players were more than happy to hear the whistle blown for full time.

The semi-finals will be played on Friday at the Leonora Track and Field Stadium with the first game kicking off at 18:00h, Milerock FC will clash with GDF while Fruta will face Grove Hi-Tech. The winners of those respective games will meet in the final at the same venue.

The possibility of Fruta facing GDF in yet another final is not improbable and fans will be eagerly looking forward to the semi-finals.

Teams are playing for the grand cash prize of $2million, while the losing finalist will receive $1million, third place $500,000 and fourth $250,000.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

FRIDAY, december 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Sports can create positive change

for inmates – Norton ...donates gym equipment to Camp St Prison

Pg 23

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr George Norton hands over a pair of glove to Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels in the presence of Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (left) and other officials

GFF/Corona ‘Super 16’ tournament

Matthews, Garnett

architects of Grove’s heist on Police Pg 23

L-R: The heroes for Grove Hi-Tech Nicholai Matthews and Domini Garnett

National spots up for grabs ...GABF hosts 3x3 trials for Antilles U18 Championships The battle for who will make the national 3x3 basketball team will ensue on Saturday at the Burnham Court

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